Third Sunday in Advent ANNOUNCEMENTS December 15, 2013

Post date: Dec 13, 2013 11:37:13 PM

This Week at Trinity

Sun Dec 15

• Caring for Your Neighbor - Food Bank
• 8:00am Divine Service (Mount Ayr)
• 9:30am Divine Service
• 10:30am Special Voter's Meeting Election of Financial Secretary
• 11:00am Sunday School /Adult Bible Class
• 12:00pm Sunday School Teachers Meeting
• 2:00pm Preschool Christmas Program
• 3:30pm Youth Group Christmas Caroling -Everyone is welcome to come enjoy!

Mon Dec 16

• Pastor's Day Off

Tue Dec 17

• 6:30amEarly Risers (Fellowship Hall)
• 9:00am Handy Helpers (Quilting)

Wed Dec 18

• 5:30pm Meals for Confirmation Students
• 6:00pm Confirmation Class
• 6:00pm FLOCK
• 7:00pm Advent Service
• 8:00pm Church Council

Sun Dec 22

• School & FLOCK Children's Christmas Program
• 8:00am Divine Service (Mount Ayr)
• 9:30am Divine Service
• 11:00am Sunday School /Adult Bible Class

Cathy Dryden has been nominated to be Financial Secretary for 2014. A special election will be held today Sunday, December 15 in the sanctuary immediately following worship service.

The Trinity Preschoolers invite everyone to an afternoon of song and celebration of Jesus' Birthday! We will celebrate today, December 15th at 2:00pm in the Fellowship Hall. We would love to see you all there!

Where is Jesus?

Look carefully at the Nativity set by the narthex doors. It has Mary, Joseph, shepherds, wise men, sheep and even an angel. But something important is missing. Where is Jesus? Well, it is a long standing tradition to decorate the church for Christmas before Christmas. It comes from the pressure from outside the church to begin celebrating Christmas as soon as Thanksgiving is over. But, here in the church, we are still in the season of Advent. Advent is a time to prepare and anticipate Christmas. It is a time to prepare for something better. We hold back the joy of Christmas in order to appreciate the joy all the more. So, we'll wait for Jesus, both in our season and our Nativity Scene. Look for his appearance on Christmas Eve.

Attendance Report

• Dec 8th—Sunday Worship - 75, C-66
• Dec 11th—Wednesday Advent Service - 43

December Worship/Special Services

• Dec. 15th Preschool Christmas Program @ 2:00 pm
• Dec. 18th Advent Service @ 7:00 pm
• Dec. 22nd FLOCK and SS Children’s Program @ 9:30 am
• Dec. 24th Christmas Eve Service @ 5:00 pm (Mt Ayr)
• Dec. 24th Christmas Eve Service @ 7:00 pm (Creston)
• Dec. 25th 9:00 am Christmas Day Service

Serving At Trinity

Sun Dec 15

• Ushers: Kevin Kruse, Dave Dory, Eddie Tomas, Rick Hadley
• Elder: Norm Schroeder
• Acolytes: Hadley, Lauren; Riley, Alexandria
• Finance: Dennis Brown, Joyce Kruse
• Altar: Dave & Maggie Dory
• Organist: Sharon Ecklund

Wed Dec 18

• Pianist: Julie Lang

Sun Dec 22

• Acolytes: Bargstadt, Benjamin
• Ushers: Kevin Kruse, Dave Dory, Eddie Tomas, Rick Hadley
• Elder: Norm Schroeder
• Finance: Dennis Brown, Joyce Kruse
• Altar: Dave & Maggie Dory
• Organist: Sharon Ecklund

Life Together

Cathy Dryden has been nominated to be Financial Secretary for 2014. A special election will be held today in the sanctuary immediately following worship services.

Christmas Cards have arrived! They are located in the narthex on the card table. Cost of the cards is $5.00 a box.

Handy Helpers quilting meet this Tuesday and the third Tuesday of every month thru April.

It is time to plan for the upcoming FOURTH annual Higher Things Winter Retreat at Holy Cross, Carlisle, IA. The date is 6:00 pm Friday, January 10 through 3:00 pm, Saturday, January 11, 2014. The presentor is Rev. John Dreyer, admissions director at Concordia Theological Seminary Fort Wayne. The topic is Deliver Us From the Evil One, and is an extended version of the Angels and Demons sectional he presented at last Summer's Higher Things Youth Conference. More information will be coming soon.

Stewardship: December 15 (Advent 3) Isaiah 35:4 “Say to those who have an anxious heart, "Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you." ” The return of our Lord at the Last Day is a cause of joy and anticipation for us believers. We know our Lord and His love, and we look forward to His Second Advent. Indeed, how we live our lives here and now flows from our certain hope of resurrection and eternal life.

The Church locks have been re-keyed. Any member of the church may have a key. Please come to the office and fill out a registration card and return your old keys for recycling.

You can now access the church directory online! You can also update your church database information. Please talk to Pastor Watt if you want to get access. Call, eMail or in person. (515)462-0566 or Pastor@TrinityCreston.org

Anyone wanting to usher in 2014 please contact Karl Peterson

Mercy

“Christmas is also for the unborn. The Savior has come also for the children yet living in their mothers’ wombs. The Gospel message is addressed also to our youngest brothers and sisters. In fact, we can say it is addressed especially to them, because they are the most helpless.” Father Frank Pavone, Priests for Life – A “Life Quote” from Lutherans For Life · www.lutheransforlife.org

A reminder! If you give pastor Watt a prayer request during the Sunday service and you want the prayer for multiple Sundays please ALSO fill out a Prayer Request sheet (found on the narthex table) and place it in the "prayer requests" mail box.

Life Thoughts Third in Advent – It can be frustrating waiting for the Lord to return to deal with our messed up world. It can be frustrating waiting for the Lord to reveal His purpose in our sometimes messed up lives. But His promise is, “Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast” (James 5:11a). Our hope is, “the Lord is compassionate and merciful” (5:11c).Lutherans for Life.

Building Healthy Families: Reflecting on a birth mother who chose adoption for her unplanned child, someone said, “She put the needs of her child above the wants of her heart". The pregnancy counseling and adoption ministry of LFS has witnessed this selfless act of love on the part of hundreds of birth families over the years. If you know of a friend or family member who is experiencing an unplanned pregnancy, help them connect with an LFS counselor to talk about their options. Be their link to a positive future. All services to birth families are provided at no cost, thanks to the support LFS has from its owners – the 296 LCMS congregations and their members in Iowa. Lutheran Family Service of Iowa

Witness

Join the Youth Group on December 15 for Christmas Caroling! We begin at 3:30pm in the Fellowship Hall with an Apologetics Study. "What Non-Christians Ask." A study of the most commonly asked questions by Non-Christians. Everyone is welcome for the study and the caroling.

Members of Trinity are encouraged to join Preschool Chapel (Pastor Time) on Thursdays at 9:45AM and 1:45PM.

CHRIST-CENTERED, CROSS-FOCUSED TALK RADIO...You can listen to Lutheran experts teaching on topics like: The Book "Jesus Feminist," Advent Hymnody, The Third Use of the Law, Adam & Eve, Daniel the Prophet & the Three Young Men and more. Issues, Etc. is a radio talk show hosted by LCMS Pastor Todd Wilken and produced by Lutheran Public Radio in Collinsville, IL. You can listen to what you want when you want at www.issuesetc.org

CULTURE & CHRISTIANITY and GOD WHISPERERS: Have you listened yet on your Lutheran Radio Station Worldwide KFUO? Check out these new programs: Culture and Christianity (Wednesdays@2pm CST) looks into the vocations and lives of today’s top musicians, artists, chefs and more, and deals with the Christian’s place in modern culture as they interact with it in their service to God and their neighbors, and God Whisperers (Thursdays@2pm CST) is an offbeat program that discusses the everyday life of Christians with humor and intelligence. Be sure to listen! Follow us on www.facebook.com/KFUORadio. Streaming and archived at kfuo.org.

How can YOU help children attend a Lutheran school? The Answer: Donation to the Iowa Lutheran Student Tuition Organization (ILSTO) Help is needed to reach our goal of $599,694. Time is running out (December 31, 2013) for a great opportunity for you to help your tax situation and to assist families who want their children to attend a Lutheran School. Please consider giving to the Iowa Lutheran School Tuition Organization. Students and their families will be most appreciative and you will reap the benefits of the 65% Iowa state tax credit. Donor forms are located at www.iowalutheransto.org. For further information, please contact Dewey Torkelson 712-260-2991.

Prayers

Cancer: Bethany Gurich; Jackie Loomis ; Kenneth Goeglein ; Rheanna Miller; Mike Rollings; Orlan Lux; Merle Triggs; Al Davis; Grace Weese; Janice Shepherd; Wes Keeler; Lois Watt; LaVern Otte; Maggie Dory; Jeff Bierle; Tim Stalker; Bobby Colton;

Condolences: The Frey Family

Christian Care: Jane, George, Jabes, Jefery our sponsored orphans in Africa;

Illness Injury Surgery &Recovering: Bill Reidy; Ethan Bulgrin; Jace Zellmer; Gailen Foreman; Chad Schroeder; May Carlisle; Megan Parsons; Marie Burmiester; Danna Rains; Deb Laudner;

Military: Aaron Hoogand; Carl Green; Michael Kaufman; Denise McClary;

Missions: Concordia Mission Society; Dr Oliver (Seminary in Taiwan); Ivan and Jennifer Rasch, Africa; Pastor Daniel Vogel, Hispanic Missions in Iowa; Pastor Dennis Konkel, Deaf Missions in Iowa;

Seminary Students: Timothy Meyer (Vicar: Macomb, MI), Chris Troxel, and Martin Herzberg;

Shut-ins: Mary Carson; Ruth Chase; Wilma Cottrell; Jeanne Herzberg; Fern Hoepker; Frieda Porter; Lonny Riley; Don Campbell;